We need to sign Dan Wheeler immediately

by bjewitt16 on Nov 18, 2011 1:52 PM EST

He is 34 years old and thus leaving his prime years, but he consistently has a low WHIP, which hasn’t exceeded 1.11 since 2008. He is also on a slight downward trend ERA-wise, as it has climbed from 3.12 to 4.38 over the last 4 years, but he did play his last season in the pressure-cooker that was Boston and his experience in the AL East over the last 5 years would be a major plus for the young guys who will be filling out the Jays bullpen.

At worst he would be a great ROOGY – right handers batted .227, .222 and .156 the last 3 years respectively off him – and at best he could be a dependable setup guy that fills in to close a few games.

I think we could get him for between 2.5 to 4 million per year at a 1 year deal with options.
Your thoughts?

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Oh I thought from the urgency in the title

We’d have gotten a free Daniel Bard if we called in the next 20 minutes.

by T_Mizz on Nov 18, 2011 2:13 PM EST reply actions 8 recs

I had a similar thought...

…although it was more along the lines of “If we do so today, it won’t cost us a pick when FA compensation changes!!”

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

by Jevant on Nov 18, 2011 2:21 PM EST up reply actions

No, but...

Wheeler will be bring over all the leftover beer and fried chicken from the Red Sox clubhouse to share with all Blue Jay fans.

by bjewitt16 on Nov 22, 2011 10:27 AM EST up reply actions

he's good, not amazing

3.48 career SIERA is nice, but I also don’t think we’d be getting him for 3M

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by benk on Nov 18, 2011 2:26 PM EST reply actions

I wouldn't rush to sign Wheeler

I think he’s a servicable reliever, decent K/9 and excellent BB/9, but the major red flag to me is the 35.7% career GB%, a rate which is only going downwards as he ages seeing as his GB% has actually been worse than the career number in each of the past 4 seasons after having been above it every year prior to that. Basically, he’s a fly ball pitcher becoming an extreme fly ball pitcher as he becomes less effective, and in Roger’s Centre a lot of flyballs translates to a lot of HR.

In fact, looking over his career numbers, there’s a pretty strong resemblance to Jon Rauch. Last year signing Rauch meant possibly getting a draft pick, but it looks like that’s not going to be the case going forward (we’ll know for sure next week). Not to mention we have more bullpen depth this year. I’d wait until January, see how the market shakes out, and if you still have a need and he’s available, maybe you get a bargain. Otherwise, I don;t have much interest in seeing him with the Jays.

by MjwW on Nov 18, 2011 2:35 PM EST reply actions

Umm, no

We need to sign a 2B more urgently than we need to sign a reliever.

by siggian on Nov 18, 2011 3:09 PM EST reply actions

mehhh..

my reasoning is kind of poor, I REALLY hate watching pitchers who work slow, getting Dan Wheeler would really put a damper on my no more Jason Frasor party mood.

by ABsteve on Nov 18, 2011 3:46 PM EST reply actions

No thanks

His ERA with the Rays was extremely deflated due to good defense: 2 sub-.200 BABIP seasons, and a sub-.240 BABIP season

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by Pikachu on Nov 18, 2011 4:10 PM EST reply actions

Wheeler wouldn’t be a bad pick up, certainly, but I dont see where we have to. There are other guys with a similar profile available, potentially cheaper.

by dexfarkin on Nov 19, 2011 5:45 PM EST reply actions